How would American motoring be different if...

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Jim Prower

Jim Prower

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NASCAR had not banned superchargers in the late '50s?

First off, It's likely that Packard/Studebaker would still be in buisness, or at least exist as a brand. These small independents couldn't make Big Blocks, so they relied on blowers to push their smaller engines faster. However, they lost a huge form of advertising when NASCAR banned blowers.

Second, we'd see smaller, higher-revving engines. I seriousl;y doubt the Big Blocks woud've been to allowed to run blowers, and the smaller engines would thus be a little faster. then, in the late '60s, we'd see the manufactuers cranking up the boost, until we got something like F1 in the '80s, with small engines (sub-350 CI, maybe even fours and sixes. 0.0) cranking out 600hp. (remember, '60s tech appied to street engines.) We may not have even seen the Superbird/Daytona. Boost restrictions would've taken effect by the '70s.

In the '80s, we'd see a LOT more Turbocharged cars. Turbos never took off in America because we missed our big V8s; in a Supercharged America, Turbos would be common. I suppose we'd turn out like Japan did in the '80s and '90s, though our cars would still be bigger.

any other thoughts?
 
I think the fact that fuel is cheep in the US is the main reason why small capacity engines never really took off and the fact the power can be achieved much cheeper with a large capacity, simple engine. Add to that the size of your country and how its much nicer to travel long distances in a nice unstressed enviroment (a lazy big engined car) and you have your answers, i don't think NASCAR really had much to do with it.
 
My guess is that NASCAR didn't have any affect at all. I like TC's explanation. Plus the fact that big engines have big torque, and we like to tow/drag race.
 
That is an interesting idea but considering Nascar was nonexistent on the national stage in the 50s I'm not sure it had that huge of an impact on our cars at that time.
 
You folks would be surprised. Many engines (Hemis, Boss 429s) were created specifically to dominate Stock car racing. Manufacturers were actively participating in team's development, much more so than today. The horespower war of the '60s was largely fueled by stock car racing, then Drags. I was just saying that smaller, supercharged engines might have changed the way guys looked for horsepower, and might have changed the automotive landscape of America indifinitely. who knows?

The idea of cheaper is a good one, but I'm not sure that matters much to racers at the top levels, and there were some less expensive cars with blowers. they were reliable, too. (the aforementioned Packards and Studebakers, which were priced competitively)

Again, this is purely specluation.
 
neanderthal
i just wish they had banned nascar itself instead.

the cracker nailed it though.
Click to expand...
But without NASCAR, there'd be less appreciation for those who can turn right.


Turbo's? 80's? yeah, we only had 20.
let's see.
Dodge Daytona
Dodge Omni
Dodge Spirit
Dodge Colt
Dodge Shelby
Pontiac Firebird
Pontiac Grand-Am
Pontiac Sunbird
Buick Grand National
Chevy Monte Carlo
Chrysler Lebaron
Ford EXP Turbo
Ford Thunderbird Turbo (diff. from the supercharged)
Plymouth Laser Turbo
(Do Saab's count?)
Saab Turbo
Saab 900 Turbo
Saab 9000 Turbo

Anyways, my point is that we had a massive amount of turbo'd cars, I even left some out, like the Plymouth Colt, simply cause it's same as a Dodge Colt, BUT that's how American cars are, so I'm sure this list could be added to.

In answer to the question: No, I don't think superchargers in NASCAR would have caused more Turbo's in the 80's. (well, maybe a FEW)

Of course! how could I forget? she sweat, wet, got it going like a Turbo Vette! They may have only came in 90 though, I forget
 
A supercharged America? Hmmmm... I don't know. No matter how you cut it, SCs still cost more... we would've had SC'd NASCAR racers AND NA streetcars.

Twas emissions that killed the turbo car, wasn't it?
 

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